California Youth Defender Center

Our Mission

Defend youth rights by building and training a statewide defense coalition that challenges injustices, drives policy change, and champions community.

Our Vision

California sets the standard for youth justice, where statewide efforts ensure:

• Every county has a holistic team ready to defend & transform the potential of each young person,
• Every community has place-based alternatives to youth detention,
• Every child has an equitable chance to heal, grow, and thrive.

Founded in 1999, CYDC is the only organization in California that supports and champions youth defenders and the young people they represent. We focus on:

• building defender capacity and excellence by providing in person and online trainings, litigation tools, and nurturing a dynamic legal community;
• strategic litigation and amicus work that improves outcomes for youth by strengthening the law through litigation at the trial, appellate, and supreme court levels;
• youth justice policy & reform by expanding alternatives to youth incarceration and negative impacts of the system by engaging in legislative and policy advocacy; and,
• anti-racism & equity in youth defense, where we aim to decrease disparities and structural racism in the youth justice system.